Todd earns Derby draw

Even: Steve Howard and Sylvain Distin

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Teams

• Derby County
• Portsmouth

Players

• Andy Todd
• John Utaka

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• Derby reaction
• Pompey reaction
• Score Centre

Andy Todd took a giant stride into Derby County folklore after salvaging a 2-2 draw against Portsmouth on the first day of the Premier League season.

Todd, whose dad Colin made his name with the Rams, popped up with a crucial 84th-minute leveller to earn County their first point of the season.

Derby had taken the lead in the 5th minute when Matt Oakley volleyed home but Benjani equalised for Portsmouth soon after, his step over fooling both the defence and Derby keeper Stephen Bywater, who let the ball in through his legs.

The second half was locked in a stalemate with Derby defending deeply and Pompey doing their best to pile on the pressure until Hermann Hreidarsson knocked down a Sylvain Distin free-kick for John Utaka to sidefoot home in the 83rd minute.

But Todd ensured it was far from being decisive when he used his head to power a Gary Teale cross past David James.

Billy Davies' side were certainly excellent value, and on this showing have every chance of proving the bookmakers wrong as they are favourites for an instant return to the Championship.

Derby's season was barely four minutes old when goalkeeper Bywater punted a long goal-kick upfield where Steve Howard managed to outjump Sol Campbell, who was wearing the captain's armband for the first time.

Howard's header looped into space with barely a blue shirt within yards of Oakley who was given a clear sight of David James' goal.

Excuses

The former Southampton midfielder made no mistake with a crisp right-foot drive from 15 yards.

Derby's football was assured, while the visitors appeared all at sea in the opening stages, with no excuses as to the number of new faces on show as both sides were fielding five.

In the 10th minute it should have been 2-0 as the Pompey defence made a hash of clearing a loose ball from their area.

Steaming through from midfield Todd took the ball in his stride on the edge of the area, only to scoop his 12-yard shot over the crossbar.

But then Portsmouth started to find their feet, and after Bywater had denied Pedro Mendes on the half volley from 25 yards, Redknapp's side were back on level terms in the 27th minute.

New boys Sulley Muntari and David Nugent, £7million and £6million respectively, played their part in teeing up Mwaruwari, who had scored just six goals in his previous 50 appearances.

Header

The Zimbabwe striker first shimmied his way past Andy Griffin, a free transfer signing from Portsmouth, before passing the ball underneath a slow-on-the-shot Bywater.

After Utaka forced a fine save from Bywater soon after, the Rams came within a whisker of heading into the break with the lead.

However, Howard's downward glancing header to a right-wing cross from Craig Fagan clipped the outside of James' left-hand post.

After the interval the chances continued to fall Derby's way, aided initially by a wayward Muntari pass along the halfway line that was intercepted by Fagan.

The 24-year-old then outpaced Campbell as they bore down on goal, but again James showed fine agility as he was at full stretch in saving Fagan's low shot from the edge of the area.

Derby appeared as if they would pay for their missed opportunities when another two of Pompey's new faces in Sylvain Distain and Hermann Hreidarsson combined to set up Utaka.

But the Rams refused to go under, and sparked by 75th minute substitute Gary Teale, it was the Scotland international who laid the ball on a plate for Todd to grab a share of the spoils.

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Derby County	Team Statistics	Portsmouth
2	Goals	2
1	1st Half Goals	1
4	Shots on Target	5
6	Shots off Target	6
2	Blocked Shots	1
6	Corners	6
17	Fouls	16
2	Offsides	3
1	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
75.2	Passing Success	70.7
20	Tackles	14
70	Tackles Success	78.6
53.5	Possession	46.5
53.9	Territorial Advantage	46.1